Combination ironing-table.



No. 639,837. I .Patentedne'c. 26, I899.

.1. F. WHITE.

COMBINATION IRONING TABLE.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1899.)

.(No Model.)

I NITED STATES PATENT union.

COMBINATION lRONlNG-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,837, dated December26, 1899.

Application filed August 19,1899. Serial No. 727,846. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Oombination Ironing-Table, of which thefollow-- ing is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination ironing-table, and has for itsobject to provide an improved article of this character having simpleand efficient means for supporting an ironing-board and the separateparts of which are capable of independent use.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates the novel constructionof a boardsupport in the form of a ladder, so as to be readily adaptednot only for supporting the ironing-board, but also as a convenientstepladder for independent use.

A further object of the invention is to construct a board-supportingladder in such a way as to give the same the necessary strength andrigidity for use as a ladder as well as the supporting element for theironing-board.

Another object of the invention is to associate with the ironing-board anovel form of cleat, which facilitates applying the article to tables ofdifferent height.

With these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same con,- sistsin the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of partshereinafter described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thecombination ironin g-table and ladder embodying the improvementscontemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing thebrace-bar of the supporting-ladder engaged with one of therest-shoulders of the cleat at the under side of the ironing-board. Fig.4 is a detail in perspective of the board-supporting ladder in theposition in which it is used as the supporting element for the board.Fig. 5 is a similar view of the ladder inverted for use as such.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesthe ironing board proper, of the usual configuration. As hereinafterexplained, this board may be the plain ironing-board, such as iscommonly used by housekeepers, with one end placed on a table and theother end on a chair-back; but in carrying out the present inventionthere is preferably associated with the board 1 a transverse cleat Thiscleat is fastened to the under side of the board, near one end thereof,and extends the full width of the same, thereby serving to strengthenthe board and prevent any tendency thereof to warp while in use. Inaddition to this function the cleat 2 forms a rest for engagement withthe supporting element or leg of the table and is provided with a stepseries of restshoulders 3, which cooperate with the board support 4. inthe manner to be presently explained.

The board-support 4. constitutes an essential part of the presentinvention and is constructed in the form of a complete ladder,essentially comprising a pair of opposite divergent side rails 5 and aplurality of transverse flat step-pieces 6, connecting the said siderails and secured at their ends to thesame by suitable fastenin gs. Theflat transverse steppieces 6 aredisposed obliquely to the longitudinalplane of the side rails, so that when the support is set up at aninclination against a wall or other-object the said step-pieces will liein substantially horizontal planes to form the usual steps of theladder.

To provide for adapting the ladder tas the supporting element of theironing-board 1, the same is provided between'the divergent ends of theside rails with a transverse brace bar 7. The brace bar 7 extendsentirely across the space between the divergent ends of the side railsand is suitably secured at its ends to said rails, being also arrangedat one side of and secured directly to the contiguous step -piece 6 ofthe structure. The transverse brace-bar 7 is disposed at right angles tothe step-piece with which it is connected, and thereby serves as aneffectual brace for the bottom step of the ladder by strengthening theportion thereof upon which the great est strain is placed when it isused simply as a ladder, as well as when used as the supporting elementfor the ironing-board.

and constitutes a fulcrum upon which theironing-board is supported. Thedivergent ends of the side rails 5, beyond the brace-bar 7, are providedin one edge thereof with the angular notches 8, which are adapted toengage the top edge of the table or wall eleat, beneath which one end ofthe ironing-board is placed.

In the use of the structure as an ironingtable one end of theironing-board is placed between the spread or divergent ends of the siderails 5 and engages beneath the edge of the table or wall cleat. In thisposition the board may rest directly on one edge of the bracebar 7, withthe rest-cleat 2 disposed at one side of the same, which arrangement ofparts is necessary when the device is applied to a low table; but in theevent of it being necessaryto attach the parts to a higher table any oneof the rest-shoulders of the cleat 2 may be arranged to engage with theupper edge of the brace-bar 7 to secure the desired elevation of theparts. \Vith one end of the ironing-board engaged beneath the edge ofthe table or wall cleat and the angular notches 8 of the side railsengaged with the upper side of the said table or wall cleat the partsare held securely locked together by reason of the leverage exerted bydownward pressure upon the ironing-board.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that any ordinary board might beused with the brace 7 of the supporting-ladder; but the cleat 2 is adesirable addition, inasmuch as it adapts the article for attachment totables of different heights. As for the supporting-ladder, it will beobserved that when in use as the supporting element for the board thedownwardly and inwardly converging side rails extend beneath the boardinside of the vertical planes of the side edges of the latter, so as tobe entirely out of the way of the feet of the operator. By engaging thenotches S of the side rails with a window-sill or table the saidsupporting element might be used as a step-ladder in the position shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings. .Ordinarily when used solely as a step-ladderthe said supporting element 4 is inverted to the position shown in Fig.5 of the drawings, so that the lower step, upon which great strain isusually placed,

will be effectually braced by the transverse brace-bar 7.

- From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operationwill be readily apparent without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit orsacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a ladder comprising a pair of opposite divergentside rails having notchesat or near one end thereof, a plurality oftransverse flat steppieces connecting the side rails at intervals, and atransverse brace-bar secured to and arranged longitudinally of thebottom steppiece, said brace-bar being disposed at right angles to thestep-piece with which it is associated, and when the ladder is invertedconstitutes a fulcrum-support for the ironingboard, substantially as setforth.

2. In an ironing-table,the combination with the board, of aboard-supportingladder having steps, and a separate transverse bracebarfitted directly to and arranged longitudinally of one of the steps, saidbrace-bar projecting at one side of the plane of the step to which it isattached, and also constituting a fulcrum-support for the board.

3. In an ironing-table,the combination with the board provided at itsunder side with a fixed transverse rest-cleat having a step series ofshoulders, and a support for the board having a transverse fulcrum-baradapted to have its edge engaged with any of said restshoulders,substantially as set forth.

4. In a device of the class described, a'ladder comprising a pair ofside rails, a plurality of transverse step-pieces connecting the siderails at intervals, and a transverse brace-bar secured to and arrangedlongitudinally of the bottom step-piece, said brace-bar being disposedat an angle to the step-piece with which it is associated, and when theladder is inverted constitutes a fulcrum-support for the ironing-board.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afljxedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OIIN F. VVIIITE.

Witnesses PEARL REED, A. M. DUFF.

